The European Commission’s delegation to Vietnam has published its “Blue Book” for 2009, an annual report on EU development cooperation in Vietnam, confirming the EU’s key role in assisting Vietnam with its socio-economic development.
At the launching ceremony in Hanoi on June 2, Michal Kral, the Czech Republic’s Ambassador, which is currently the EU President said: “The EU remains fully engaged in international efforts to increase aid effectiveness through better coordination and harmonisation of development cooperation with other donors and international agencies that are operating in Vietnam.”
According to the delegation, the EU has committed over 716 million EUR to Vietnam in 2009, equal to 17.82 percent of all total external aid, of which almost one half are grants (308 million EUR).
This figure makes the EU the largest provider of aid to Vietnam.
However, Ambassador and Head of the EC Delegation to Vietnam Sean Doyle said that Vietnam may become a country with an average income, so EU member countries may change the methods they use through the activities of non-governmental organisations instead of direct dealings with the government.
Sean Doyle stated that the EC’s annual assistance to Vietnam will increase by 20 percent in 2011, 2012 and 2013 despite the current global economic crisis.
The 2009 Blue Book, the 11th annual edition, highlights the EU’s contributions to ensuring effective aid in Vietnam.
Moreover, the book highlights recent EU initiatives on the environment and climate change issues. The EU’s environmental policy aims to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment and to protect human health. It also focuses on the careful and rational use of natural resources and contributes to promoting, at international level, measures intended to combat regional or global environmental problems.
It explains that the EU is ready to assist Vietnam, along with other donors, to combat pollution and environmental degradation in the country.